Trump and the Saudis:
Ahead of Trump’s visit to Saudi Arabia, some believed that arms sales would similarly be used as part of a package that would see Riyadh normalize relations with Israel, which would have likely played a role in overcoming any QME-related hurdles.

Instead, Israel — unnecessary snub — was left off to the side as Trump and the Saudis heaped lavish indulgences and effusive praise on each other.

During his visit, Trump addressed the Saudi-US Investment Forum, hailing the “close partnership” between Washington and Riyadh and praising Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the kingdom’s sweeping transformation since Trump’s last visit as president.

Exactly eight years ago this month I stood in this very room and looked forward to a future in which the nations of this region would drive [out] the forces of terrorism and extremism… and take your place among the proudest, most prosperous, most successful nations anywhere in the world as leaders of a modern and rising Middle East,” Trump said.

“Critics doubted that it was possible,” he added, “but over the past eight years, Saudi Arabia has proved the critics totally wrong,” citing the kingdom’s emergence as a global business leader.

In tandem with its ambitions to become a business hub, Saudi Arabia has dramatically ramped up its military spending, signaling its intent to play a more assertive role on the regional and global stage.

According to a February statement by Ahmad Al-Ohali, governor of the Saudi General Authority for Military Industries, the kingdom increased its defense budget from $75.8 billion in 2024 to $78 billion in 2025.

Al-Ohali also noted a consistent 4.5 percent annual growth in defense spending since 1960 placing Saudi Arabia as the fifth-largest military spender in the world, and the largest in the Arab world.